Genetic variability and interrelationships of seed yield and yield components in switchgrass

Information on the genetic variability of seed yield and yield components is limited and no information is available on correlations among seed yield and yield components and direct and indirect effects of the yield components on seed yield in switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L. Accordingly, we conducted replicated experiments at Chickasha and Perkins, OK, in 1998 involving 11 lowland type switchgrass populations to assess genetic variation for seed yield and yield components, quantify interrelationships among them, and determine direct and indirect effects of yield components on seed yield through path coefficient analysis to identify traits for indirect selection of seed yield. Significant (P ≤ 0.01) variation existed among the 11 populations over locations for percent seed set and 100-seed weight. Seed yield/plant and the seed yield components panicle number/plant, spikelet number/panicle, and seed number/panicle had significant (P ≤ 0.05) population × location interactions, indicating substantial environmental influence on these traits for these populations. Accordingly, data for these traits were analyzed separately for each location revealing significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences among populations at both locations for each of these traits. Phenotypic correlation between seed yield/plant and seed number/panicle was positive (r = 0.76** at Chickasha and r = 0.72** at Perkins). Path coefficient analyses revealed that seed number/panicle had the highest positive direct effect on seed yield at both locations. Ample genetic variability was present among the switchgrass populations studied to allow breeding improvement of seed yield. Selection for increased seed number/panicle would be the most effective means of indirectly selecting for higher seed yield within this germplasm. Correlation and path coefficient analyses among biomass yield, seed yield, and harvest index indicated that, at least within the switchgrass germplasm studied, it would be possible to breed switchgrass cultivars with enhanced biomass yielding ability and sufficient seed production capability for their commercial propagation.     

Germplasm for genetic improvement of lint yield in Upland cotton: genetic analysis of lint yield with yield components

Determination of genetic effects for lint yield and yield components in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) germplasm is critical for its utilization in breeding programs. This study was designed to apply the conditional approach and an additive and dominant model to analyze genetic effects for lint yield and yield components. Forty-eight F₂ populations derived from crosses between four existent Upland cotton cultivars as female parents and 12 germplasm lines as male parents were evaluated at two locations in 2008 and 2009. Conditional and unconditional variance components were estimated by the mixed linear model based conditional approach. Lint yield and yield components were mainly controlled by genotypic effects, i.e., additive variance and dominance variance (≥66 % of total phenotypic variation). Lint percentage and lint index had the highest proportions of additive variance component to the total phenotypic variances. SP156 and SP205 had positive additive effects for lint yield and yield components, and were also parents of the most hybrids with positive predicted dominant effects. Therefore, these two lines are good combiners for development of both pure lines and hybrids. Positive additive contribution effects to lint yield from lint percentage, boll number, boll weight, and seed index were detected in different parents. Adding seed index to boll number and lint percentage increased additive contribution effects to lint yield from these two components relative to the contribution effects from either boll number or lint percentage alone. Results in this study suggest that boll number, lint percentage, and seed index should be balanced in pure line development.     

Phenotypic and genetic relationships between yield components in maize

Summary Physiological components of kernel development — LAG period, effective filling period duration (EFPD) and grain filling rate (GFR) — ear moisture release (U), ear size (row number and kernels per row), days from emergence to silking and number of leaves, were examinated on 45 F₁ hybrids (10×10 diallel cross) in order to study their genetic relationships with yield. Combining ability analysis revealed that all trait variability derived mainly from g.c.a. effects. LAG period and EFPD were the traits most affected by genotype-environment interaction.Covariation analysis (path method) based on mean phenotypic values and on g.c.a. effects yielded similar information. It is shown that GFR and EFPD are both related to plant yield, but GFR made the most important contribution. On the contrary, a significant relationship between yield and LAG was not detected. Ear size components were also positively related to yield and had negative effects on GFR. These results indicate that, for our material, the dry matter accumulation rate is the main limiting factor of yield.Considering s.c.a. effects, kernel number per row made the most important contribution.     

Diallel analysis of barley for resistance to leaf stripe and impact of the disease on genetic variability for yield components

Barley breeders in Syria attempting to develop barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars resistant to barley leaf stripe (BLS) disease caused by Pyrenophora graminea Ito & Kuribayashi [anamorph Drechslera graminea (Rabenh. Ex. Schlech. Shoem.)]. Information on the combining ability for BLS resistance in Syria is not available. This study was conducted to evaluate, in 10 genetically diverse barley parents, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects towards the determination of the genetic basis of disease resistance and to estimate genetic variability for yield components and its modification by BLS. Ten parental genotypes varying in their reactions to BLS were crossed in a half-diallel mating design to generate 45 full-sib families. The families and the parents were inoculated with P. graminea and evaluated for resistance in replicated field tests (three inoculated and three non-inoculated plots). The parents chosen showed wide variations for resistance to BLS. Genetic component analysis showed significant effects for both GCA and SCA for resistance to BLS, suggesting that additive as well as non-additive genetic mechanisms were involved in the expression of resistance in these parents. GCA effects were more important than SCA effects. Resistant parents exhibited high negative GCA indicating that additive gene effects were more predominant, and suggesting their prime suitability for use in barley breeding programs to improve resistance to BLS. Narrow-sense heritability was 58% and broad-sense heritability was 99% indicating that selection for BLS resistance should be effective in these crosses. A high genetic variability for the agronomic traits studied was observed. Yield components decreased significantly in inoculated plants and more pronounced in diseased plants. Significant GCA was observed for all traits. Values for GCA were, in some cases, significantly modified by BLS. This indicates that attention must be paid to the danger of drawing conclusion in quantitative genetics studies dealing with both diseased and healthy plants. Two genotypes, Banteng and Igri, had high negative GCA effects and are promising parents for enhancement of BLS resistance.     

Clonal selection for yield in pyrethrum,Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium Vis.

Summary Pyrethrum is grown for the insecticides found in the flowers. Due to its perennial habit each selection stage should last three years. Most traits can be adequately observed or measured within one-year cycles. However, it has not previously been investigated whether flower yield, one of the most important traits, could be adequately assessed in one year.Seven replicated yield trials, comprising 110 clones in a similar stage of selection, were observed over a period of three years. The clone effect on flower yield, pyrethrins yield and pyrethrins content were very significant in all trials. The correlation coefficients between the first year's results and the total results averaged +0.91 for flower yield and +0.93 for pyrethrins content. Selection of the highest yielding clones comprising one third of the total number resulted in an increase in pyrethrins yield of 34.3% when selected after the first year and in an increase of 37.5% when selected after three years. This increase was predominantly due to an increase in flower yield, which is caused by the much greater variation for flower yield than for pyrethrins content together with an inverse relation between these two traits.It is therefore possible to select in one-year stages with only a final testing over a 2 to 3 year period.     

稻茬小麦氮高效品种产量构成和群体质量特征

在稻麦两熟条件下,将2016—2017和2017—2018年江苏扬州参试的24个和江苏睢宁参试的23个小麦品种按氮肥表观利用率(NUR)划分为高效(NUR≥50%)、中效(NUR 40%～50%)和低效(NUR≤40%)品种类型,比较其产量、产量构成因素和群体质量指标的差异,为稻茬小麦品种选用和大面积高产高效生产提供参考。结果表明,两年度在扬州均表现出高效的品种为扬麦25和宁麦21,在睢宁为淮麦35。扬州和睢宁氮高效品种产量分别高于6500 kg hm^-2和7000 kg hm^-2,均显著高于其他类型。与氮中效和氮低效品种相比,氮高效品种具有较高的穗数,穗粒数和千粒重品种类型间差异不显著。不同品种间产量和穗数与NUR均呈线性正相关。氮高效品种具有较高的孕穗期和开花期茎蘖数,分蘖成穗率,乳熟期叶面积指数,孕穗期、开花期和成熟期干物质积累量,花后干物质积累量和成熟期各营养器官干物质积累量。不同氮效率品种类型间花前干物质转运量和收获指数差异不显著。相关性分析表明,两地不同品种类型间孕穗期和开花期茎蘖数、乳熟期LAI、主要生育时期干物质积累量、花后和...     

Dent corn genetic background influences QTL detection for grain yield and yield components in high-oil maize

Despite the well-recognized importance of grain yield in high-oil maize (Zea mays L.) breeding and production, few studies have reported the application of QTL mapping of such traits. An inbred line of high-oil maize designated ‘GY220’ was crossed with two dent maize inbred lines to generate two connected F_2:3 populations with 284 and 265 F_2:3 families. Our main objective was to evaluate the influence of genetic background on QTL detection of grain yield traits through comparisons between the F_2:3 populations. The field experiments were conducted during the spring in Luoyang and summer in Xuchang, Henan, China. Two genetic linkage maps were constructed with a genetic distance of 2111.7 and 2298.5 cM using 185 and 173 polymorphic SSR markers, respectively. In total, 18 and 15 QTL were detected for six grain yield traits in the two populations. Only one common QTL marker was shared between the two populations. A QTL cluster associated with five traits was identified at bin 1.05–1.06, including the shared QTL for 100GW, which demonstrated the largest effect (16.7%). Among the detected QTL, 12 digenic interactions were identified. Our results reflect the substantial influence of dent maize genetic background on QTL detection of grain yield traits.     

Fitness and yield components associated with genetic changes at the aleurone color loci in barley

Summary Genotypic frequency data at two loci governing blue vs. white aleurone color in barley showed that composite cross (CC) populations grown at Davis varied in the changes in allelic frequencies as well as heterozygosity levels. The blue class increased steadily over 20 generations in CC V and CC XXI along with an excess of heterozygotes over expected under high selfing rates, fluctuated without a directional shift in CC XIV, and declined in CC XVI. Utilizing the xenia feature of this character, nearly 100 Bl/bl Bl₂/bl₂ individuals were randomly drawn from the CC XVI and CC XXI populations and used in a paired-plot study of some yield components for comparing the blue and white isogenic classes within lines in the varied genetic backgrounds of different lines. For seed number blue vs. white isogenic class differences were significant only in one out of four populations (CC XXI-F₈) whereas differences among the lines were significant in CC XVI-F₁₂, CC XXI-F₃ and CC XXI-F₈. Thus, specific locus effects were relatively much smaller than the genetic background component although overall the genotypic frequency changes at the aleurone color loci were found to be consistent with the relative average seed output per plant in the three genotypic classes.     

The genetic relationship between popping expansion volume and two yield components in popcorn using unconditional and conditional QTL analysis

Popping expansion volume (PEV) is the most important quality trait in popcorn, while its germplasm is inferior to normal dent/flint corn in yield. In this study, 259 F_2:3 families, developed from the cross between a dent corn inbred Dan232 and a popcorn inbred N04, were evaluated for their PEV, grain weight per plant (GWP) and 100-grain weight (100 GW) in two environments. The genetic relationship between PEV and GWP, and 100 GW on individual gene loci were evaluated using unconditional and conditional QTL mapping methods. In total, five, one and three unconditional QTL were identified for PEV, GWP, and 100 GW, respectively. The positive alleles of all QTL for PEV were from N04, while positive alleles of all QTL for GWP and 100 GW were from Dan232. In conditional mapping, one and two QTL failed to be detected, and all four additional QTL were detected. Nevertheless, three QTL were identified, which controlled PEV independently from GWP/100 GW. They seemed to be potential candidates in popcorn breeding to increase PEV without decreasing GWP/100 GW. The results suggested that for significantly correlated traits, the conditional QTL mapping method could be used to dissect the genetic interrelationship between traits at the level of individual QTL, as well as reveal additional QTL that were undetectable by unconditional mapping.     

Spatial variability and reclamation of salinity and sodicity in a Kenyan irrigation scheme

Salinity and sodicity of soils are two common problems encountered in the Hola Irrigation Scheme in east Kenya. Both result in poor crop performance and reduced yields. Based upon a detailed survey in a 405 ha area consisting of 45 irrigation blocks, the spatial variability of pH, EC_e and ESP was studied. Data obtained were analyzed using geostatistical procedures in a geographical information system. As it turned out, sodicity in the area has a clear spatial structure. Also differences in homogeneity per block were observed. Reclamation will be necessary, mainly because of the sodicity in the area, while salinity is still at an acceptable level for all crops grown and only small amounts of water are needed to maintain these EC levels. This results in varying gypsum requirements for reclamation for different blocks. A Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to handle large amounts of data and to compare the effects of different land use scenarios.     

Effect of the gene for double pod in chickpea on yield, yield components and stability of yield

Five pairs of near isogenic lines (NILs) for the gene for single vs. double pod were used to study the effect of this character on yield and its components (seeds per plant, yield per plant and seed weight). The NILs were sown in 2 years at five locations in ihe first year and four locations in the second. Combined analysis of variance was applied to t he data and no significant differences between isolines were found, but there were significant genotype– location interaction effects for yield and seeds per plant. For both characters the double–podded lines were more stable than the single–podded lines. Although there were significant differences between the five genotypes lor yield per planl and seed weight, the differentes between single– and double–podded lines were almost nil. The results indicate that the double–pod gene has a positive effect on the stability of yield and is not linked to any other gene responsible Tor seed size in chickpea     

Estimation of variance components and heritability of bunch yield and yield components in the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

In an experiment involving 24 single-cross progenies of oil palm conducted at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research, 9-year data of fresh-fruit yield and its two components, annual bunch number and single-bunch weight, were recorded. Means of progenies of each of the three traits obtained from 1–9-year records were used in analyses of variance according to a repeated-measures design. The results were then used to estimate variance components due to progenies and progeny × year interactions. These estimates were then used to estimate heritability for yield and yield components based on progeny means, which were assumed to be calculated from 1–9 years of harvests. The results revealed that heritability estimates of fresh-fruit yield and its two yield components were not reliable based on the first-year harvest data. The single-bunch weight had a slower rate of improvement than the other two traits when more years were used for the estimation. Heritability can be expected to be over 80% for fresh-fruit yield and bunch number based on 1-, 3-, and 4-year means, respectively. Six-year data are required for single-bunch weight to reach the same heritability measure.     

Quantitative dissection of antioxidative bioactive components in cultivated and wild sesame germplasm reveals potentially exploitable wide genetic variability

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the oldest oilseed crops grown in India and worldwide. This oilseed crop has high nutritional value due to the presence of antioxidants such as lignans and tocopherols. Screening of oilseed germplasm for important nutritional attributes is of prime importance in quality breeding programs. In the present study, the content of lignans (sesamin and sesamolin) and tocopherol homologues (α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol) was determined using reverse phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) in 143 sesame lines collected from diverse agro-ecological zones of India. Exploitable levels of sesamin, sesamolin, γ-, and δ-tocopherol was observed in the studied sesame lines. Sesamum indicum cultivar CO 1, introgressed line MKN 9, and Sesamum malabaricum showed high values for sesamin. Exotic and indigenous accessions of S. indicum (EC 542283 and IC 132176, IC 204681, IC 204773) showed high sesamolin contents. Cultivars, AKT 64, AKT 101, Phule til 1, and Tapi A showed high values for γ- and δ-tocopherol. The average content of sesamin and sesamolin was 0.86 and 0.50 mg g^?1 seed, respectively. The average tocopherol content (292 μg g^?1 seed) found in this study indicates the presence of a high amount of tocopherol in Indian sesame germplasm. Superior genotypes of sesame reported in this study could be utilized in sesame breeding programs for enhancing oil yield and nutritional attributes.     

Factor analysis of fodder yield components in oats

Summary The causative sources of common variation of seven components of fodder yield in oats were analysed, using the centroid method of factor analysis. Two factors together accounted for most of the inter-correlations of these characters. Factor 1 had different degrees of positive loading on all characters, the highest being on the fodder yield. Factor 2 affected negatively a few and positively the remaining characters. The plant height and fodder yield were affected positively by Factor 1 and negatively by Factor 2. Factor 1 and 2 were significantly negatively associated with each other. The fodder yield components in the material studied seem to be influenced by the two interacting hormonal systems. The implications of the findings, in selecting for high quality and high yielding varieties of fodder oats, are discussed.     

Damage assessment for selection of resistance to the spotted stalk borer and genetic correlations for resistance and yield components in sugarcane

We conducted an assessment of the stalk damage of the spotted borer, Chilo sacchariphagus (Bojer), on 65 cultivars and elite clones under natural infestation conditions in Réunion Island, with the objectives (i) of comparing seven damage measures on the basis of their quantitative genetic parameters and (ii) of studying the relationships between borer resistance and sugarcane yield components. The heritabilities of the damage measures related to counts of borer exit holes were low, whereas the heritabilities of the damage measures related to bored stalks or internodes were high and similar amongst them. The percentage of bored stalks exhibited high phenotypic and genotypic correlations with the other damage measures, and appeared as the best cost effective damage measure. Genetic correlations revealed a negative relationship between resistance to borer and cane yield, due to a relationship of stalk damage with stalk length and (in a lesser extent) with stalk number. No significant genetic relationship between resistance and sugar content parameters was observed.     

脱病毒对芋产量及构成因素的影响

芋又名芋头、芋艿 ,是世界各地广为栽培的蔬菜兼粮食作物。在长期利用球茎进行无性繁殖过程中 ,栽培芋已普遍受到病毒侵染 ,目前报道的芋病毒中分布最广、危害最大的是芋花叶病毒 ,感染这种病毒的植株生活力降低 ,球茎大小、数量和品质下降 ,其产量损失近 60 %。本试验以北方旱     

Heterosis for leaf photosynthesis,grain yield and yield components in maize

Summary One of the primary avenues of improving the biological efficiency of crop plants is through the improvement of the leaf and canopy photosynthetic rates. However, the question whether the superiority of hybrids in respect of productivity potential could be traced, in retrospective fashion, to the photosynthetic parameters should be answered first. Once established and standardized, such indices could be streamlined in innovative breeding to predict the heterotic combinations for final yield formation. To answer this question, the photosynthetic rate and other components of photosynthetic efficiency were monitored among eight inbred stocks of maize (selected for variable photosynthetic rate from a previous study) and their all possible one-way crosses. The results demonstrated extensive heterosis in respect of photosynthetic rate and other photosynthetic indices which, in turn, was also realized in terms of higher biomass productivity and yield. Nonetheless, high leaf photosynthesis alone did not result in higher grain yield. On the contrary, component interaction among the photosynthetic indices like photosynthetic rate, leaf area/plant, number of leaves and chlorophyll content on one hand and the complementary gene action on the other, could be held responsible for higher yields in hybrids. Since the components of photosynthetic efficiency can predict heterosis for biomass and grain yield upto a reasonable extent, judicious incorporation of such indices in selection parameters for applied genetic protocols can add yet another dimension to the strategies for future yield improvements.     

Little heterosis for yield and yield components in hybrids of six cucumber inbreds

Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield has been reported for pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). However, cucumber inbreds often perform as well as hybrids, and there is little inbreeding depression. The objectives of this study were to reexamine the amount of heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and yield components in pickling cucumber, and to determine the relationship between yield components and yield for heterosis. Two pickling cucumber inbreds (M 12, M 20) and inbreds from four open-pollinated monoecious cultivars (‘Addis’, ‘Clinton’, ‘Wisconsin SMR 18’, ‘Tiny Dill’) were hybridized to form four F₁ hybrids (‘Addis’ × M 20, ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’, ‘Clinton’ × M 12, M 20 × ‘Tiny Dill’). F₁ hybrids were then self-pollinated or backcrossed to generate F₂, BC_1A, and BC_1B progeny. Thirty plants of each generation within each hybrid family were grown in plots 3.1 m long with four replications in each of two seasons. Data were collected from once-over harvest for vegetative, reproductive, yield, and fruit quality traits. Heterosis and inbreeding depression for fruit yield and yield components were not observed in three of the hybrids. Only ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’ exhibited high-parent heterosis and inbreeding depression for total, marketable, and early fruit weight. For ‘Addis’ × ‘Wis. SMR 18’, heterosis for fruit yield was associated with a decreased correlation between percentage of fruit set and fruit weight, an increased negative correlation between percentage of fruit set and both the number of branches per plant and the percentage of pistillate nodes, and an increased negative correlation between the number of nodes per branch and total fruit weight. Inbreeding depression was associated with a weakening of the strong negative correlations between percentage of fruit set and the number of branches per plant, and between the number of nodes per branch and total fruit weight. Those correlations were associated with high-parent heterosis and inbreeding depression only for one cross, and do not necessarily apply to future crosses in which heterosis may be observed for yield. We did not observe the heterosis or inbreeding depression for yield in cucumber in most of the crosses as was reported by Ghaderi & Lower (1979a; 1979c). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Heritability and predicted selection response of yield components and fibre properties in an inter-specific derived RIL population of cotton

Exploiting genetic variation through inter-specific breeding has improved cotton yield, fibre properties and adaptability. The objectives of this study were to examine heritability and predicted selection response of yield components and fibre properties in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from an inter-specific cross between Gossypium hirsutum (Gh) variety Guazuncho 2, and G. barbadense (Gb) line VH8-4602. A population of 93 and 82 RILs was tested in two seasons, with two parents and local controls, Sicot 75 (Gh) and Sipima 280 (Gb) in field experiments. Seed cotton samples hand harvested before and after defoliation were used to measure lint percent, boll weight, 100 seed weight and the lint to measure fibre length, uniformity, short fibre index (SFI), elongation, strength, micronaire, maturity ratio (MR), percent of maturity (PM) and fineness. There was large phenotypic variation for individual traits and transgressive segregation occurred in lint percent, lint weight/seed, fibre no./seed, uniformity, SFI, elongation, MR and PM. Narrow sense heritabilities were moderate for yield components (34.3–41.2%) and for key fibre properties, length, strength, micronaire and fineness (38.3–42.1%), which led to a predicted selection response of 6.7–24.0% for yield components and 3.9–10.9% for key fibre properties under a selection intensity of 10%. Favourable associations were found between key fibre properties, but an adverse association between lint percent and each of these fibre properties. Only five RILs were identified with desirable combinations. The results demonstrated the value of exploiting inter-specific variation to develop cotton germplasm and how breeding strategies can be improved.